The story so far
It seems a long time since June 2002 when we had our first gig in the garden, hoping our friends would enjoy our acoustic music concert, and raising “a bit” of money for the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT).
We were aware at a very early stage of the evening on 29th June 2002 that this was really special. Our vicar, who was in charge of the weather, wrote in the Parish magazine of the event and how proud he was to be there and living in North Ferriby.
Our plans to have another concert in the garden the next year were curtailed just 3 weeks before the planned event, when a neighbour complained to the council that he should not have to suffer “things like this” in a residential area. Although this was quite devastating at the time, it proved to be the catalyst to turn a back garden concert into a significant fund-raiser for the charity.
With little time to rearrange, we approached friends from Brantingham Park, the home of our local Rugby Union club, Hull Ionians. We were overwhelmed by the kindness shown to us. Not only did they arrange a superb hog roast but they even rearranged the timing of a professional Rugby League match. Such is the support of the Rugby world towards the TCT and the plight of teenage sufferers of the “big C”
We could never have anticipated how our “Madness” could have evolved, leading to Rugby Tackling Teenage Cancer and major national fund-raising events for the TCT
The Teenage Cancer Trust exists to address the particular problems of teenage cancer sufferers, recognising that being treated in a children’s ward or alongside the elderly in adults’ wards is not conducive to their well-being. The idea is to return as much control as possible to the teenagers, involving them in the management of their disease and their environment. The specialist units are designed for, and partly by teenagers - where young people can be together and have fun, as well as being given the best possible medical treatment. The cost of each unit is over £1,000,000. The unit, which covers our area, is in Leeds.
We have now held 6 concerts, the last two of which have been held in idyllic Summer weather. This has allowed our guests to enjoy the sunshine in and around the marquee, conveniently in place following the Ionians Summer Ball of the previous evening.
In order to maximise our profits we hold promises auctions. The auctions have been interesting and exciting as well as being lucrative. We have had many and various promises to auction ranging from legal and accountancy services, to flying, shooting and sailing lessons. We have had books endorsed and signed by famous and notorious celebrities, limited edition prints, travel vouchers, high class holiday accommodation and attendance at a recording of “Millionaire”.
We have had the support of MP’S who have offered “Tea for Two at the House of Commons”. Our most lucrative “promise” to date has been the opportunity for motorsport enthusiasts to be present at a production of Top Gear. Jeremy Clarkson said that the waiting list for tickets was 17000 at the time and estimated that it would take 19 years to be able to attend the programme in normal circumstances. The winner used the tickets for a special 21st birthday present for her son. At the current reckoning, he will be 40 before he has another opportunity!
A local, nationally renowned rally driver offered to take our guests around the track at Elvington in a variety of very impressive, high performance cars. This has proved to be better than brilliant! I will never forget one of our friends saying that his face ached as he had been smiling so much. This made the hard work very worthwhile. We are very grateful to Gavin and his friends and are proud to have them on board to promote our “Madness”
A very significant event, in 2006 was the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Humber Bridge. This was the motivation for a weekend of celebrations which included an abseil from the top. This was a world record for a public abseil from a man-made construction. Unfortunately, because of health and safety issues involving the four letter word – WIND, there were long frustrating delays and many people had to have their jump rescheduled.
We were very fortunate to be able to take the opportunity to make friends with the Royal Marines Commando who were facilitating the event. They were impressed by the resilience and good humour of our little team and were very interested in our Madness fund-raising for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
At the end of the event, the CO Colonel George Matthews said that he and the boys would like to do something for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and would organise an abseil from the Tyne Bridge,in 2007. They are based in the North East and so the logistics were much easier. Several thousand pounds was raised for the TCT in sponsorship on Sunday 23rd September. This was part of a week-end’s special events held in Newcastle headed by a huge concert at the Sage Centre. Roger Daltry, a long term patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust organised the concert, “inviting” his friends to take part. Awareness was certainly raised locally for the new TCT unit which is planned to open in the Spring of 2008.
Roger’s management committee allowed us to organise a bucket collection when the Who had their concert at our wonderful KC Stadium in the summer. Despite the rain, we raised over £3000 – and the profile of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
We are fortunate to have developed links with Hull College and are very grateful for the help students have given us. The 16-18 Group have been brilliant and have more planned!
Through our contacts with the college, we heard about a young girl who had decided to have her amazingly long hair cut for the charity. We arranged that her hair should be cut by the senior stylist at a leading local salon and this will be fashioned into a wig for a teenage sufferer of the Big C. The image of a young person giving up her “crowning glory” for another is very emotive.
We never cease to be amazed by the development of “Madness” but we have been utterly moved to have received a cheque from the prison at Everthorpe. They had heard about “Madness” and organised a boxing tournament for the TCT. The cheque we received of donations from the men meant more than they could ever have imagined. They promise other initiatives – we are just “Knocked out”.
One of our recent innovations has been our website: (www.msmm.org.uk) This has been set up by our friend, Iain and his son Matthew, and is very impressive. This keeps our friends in touch with the various strands of our work. We have set up another website to report about the rugby aspects of the fund-raising – please keep in touch with www.rugbyttc.org.uk.
Another very important development arising from “Madness” is the support of local Freemason’s lodges. Anyone who believes the popular clichés about the Masons has not met our friends. They are focused and very determined to raise very significant sums for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Indications are that the next three Worshipful Masters are to commit their fund-raising efforts to the TCT.
The North Ferriby group of Slimming World have also adopted the Teenage Cancer Trust as their charity. On 18th August Sheila and three friends decided to climb a mountain to celebrate loosing the weight of two people. Wearing TCT Tshirts they were heartened to attract a lot of attention. They speculated that they could not even consider carrying rucksacks of the weight of their losses.
Sue, the consultant of the group, has mentored a young man who reached the final of The Young Slimmer of the Year. His positive attitude towards the health and fitness of young people impressed the judges and he has been invited to “Westminster” to meet celebrities. The promotion of healthy lifestyles amongst teenagers by Slimming World is a very close fit to the TCT’s.
Our ultimate ambition would be to have a Teenage Cancer Trust ward at the new State of the Art Cancer and Heart hospital at Cottingham. We should like this to be called Sully’s after the legendary Clive Sullivan – the last GB captain to win the Rugby League World Cup. Clive Sullivan was and still is, immensely popular in Hull (East and West) A play about his life was a sell-out at Hull Truck Theatre, last year. You will remember that he lost his personal battle with cancer just a short time after he retired from the game.
We feel that “SULLY’S AT COTT” – the East Riding Annexe of Jimmy’s (St James at Leeds) would be a brilliant focus for the very successful Rugby in the area, as well as local businesses. The benefit to local young cancer sufferers, being able to have some treatment locally would be enormous.
Our huge news has to be the adoption of Rugby Tackling Teenage Cancer by Hull FC as their Charity of the Year!
The special Hull FC 'TCT' strip in action
They have already planned the “launch” for the pre-season friendly against Doncaster on 27th January for which they have obtained a special dispensation from the RFL to have limited edition shirts produced bearing the Teenage Cancer Trust logo. Other shirts have been produced for “normal” games bearing the TCT logo and Rugby Tackling Teenage Cancer. These will be worn by ball boys, cheerleaders and the school children who pour on to the pitch at the beginning of games. A brilliant spectacle for the telly and publicity for the Charity!
Many wonderful and inspirational things have happened since Madness was initially conceived. Amongst these we have to mention Ellen MacArthur, a friend of a friend, who has extended her world sailing activities to take the time to take young cancer and leukaemia sufferers on sailing trips. “Taking on the World” seems like a very good place to start. We hope that the potential that has been given to us and our friends will make a world of difference for young people whose lives have been devastated by cancer. We feel certain that MIDSUMMER MUSIC MADNESS and RUGBY TACKLING TEENAGE CANCER will make a difference for many years to come.
Thank you for reading this – welcome on board!
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